Reviews with content warning for Animal death - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

A devastating semi-autobiographical story of a teenaged Spokane Indian who leaves the reservation to break out of the rez cycle of poverty and alcoholism.

This book isn’t very long and it’s very funny, and it has short chapters that move really quickly - but it seemed to take me forever to finish it. I’d put it down and then I’d procrastinate rather than reading more. It was because it’s about the most painful story I’ve read in I don’t know how long. It would be sad enough anyway, but the fact that it’s based on Alexie’s experiences makes it heartbreaking.

I know about Alexie’s sexual abuse of women and the harm that he caused. That infuriates me. For someone so talented and so representative of a minority to take advantage of his position in this way is worse than appalling because it gives a bad name to all in that minority. In addition to my anger, I have mixed feelings about recommending his book. It’s the same with Woody Allen and Roman Polanski movies - how do you separate the reprehensible artist from the spectacular art? Is that even possible?

I don’t know the answer. I just know that this was a phenomenal book that makes me want to read everything else by Sherman Alexie.

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darcy124's review

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dark informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Forced to read this in school a while back. Not a read I enjoyed in the slightest. I do think the book definitely opened my eyes to the struggles of Native Americans in today's society and I would like to learn more about it. Also, contained use of slurs.

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hannah_mariee's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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elly29's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

had some brief thought this was going to be like “An Indian in the Cupboard.” Boy, was I incorrect. (No magical realism, no fantasy.) Alexie’s personal, fictionalized story came out of nowhere for me, and it was impactful in the way that most middle-school-age reads are impactful. So much of Arnold/Junior’s life was difficult, but also so much of it was easy (like how he became popular). It was a tapestry, and showed a lot of issues Indigenous Americans face.

I listened to the version narrated by Alexie. It was powerful. You can hear Alexie get emotional over the deaths of his his sister Mary and his dad's best friend Eugene. I felt the loss and the hopelessness of the rez, and how beautiful and complex it is to be Indigenous.

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unusualsnowunicorn's review

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funny hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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vivthereader's review

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challenging emotional funny fast-paced

cried x3

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michaelion's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I started and finished this book in 6 hours. Now why did it take us like 2 weeks to read it in high school? That's how you know high school is an evil place! Insufferable institution!

Great book, though. I'm glad I reread it.

But I had to take away points for use of the n word. Like damn even if it's not from our main character, it's very disappointing the author wrote that in.

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